Campus plans ‘moving ahead and on time’

PLANS for Melksham’s Health and Wellbeing Centre are currently on schedule, with the appointment of a design team who will deliver the final design concept by April.

At the Melksham Area Board meeting last week, cllr John Thomson, deputy leader of Wiltshire Council and cabinet member for leisure, said that the project is “moving ahead and is on time.”

Updating the community, cllr Thomson said, “We have now appointed a project team and we have also re-engaged the original architects. So that is a very positive thing. The final site plan can now be progressed to the detailed design and planning stage and it is still on course to be submitted to planning this summer.”

Further updates included the news that two of the tennis courts at the Melksham House site will be resurfaced to allow the club to continue playing there in the short term.

The outdoor bowls club were told that solicitors have drawn up a lease for their consideration, which will allow them to operate independently, once in place.

Cllr Thomson also confirmed that Wiltshire Council remain committed to the indoor bowls club in supporting them to find “an achievable solution.”

Cllr Thomson said, “We’ve put in £150,000 into the pot for match funding for them (the  indoor bowls club) and we’ve designated some land for them at the site for an indoor bowls facility, subject to funding being secured. I know that’s quite a challenge.”

At the meeting, cllr Thomson fielded a number of questions from Melksham residents including one on how much is left from the original £23million budget for the health and wellbeing centre.

Refusing to reveal the remaining budget, cllr Thomson said, “I’ve answered that in a evasive way, as the original budget is £23million and I don’t really want to go and tell all the contractors that may be bidding how much I have got left in the bank.”

The next area board meeting will be held on Wednesday 11th April when it is hoped the final concept design of the centre will be presented.

Estimated Timeline

Final design concept  Feb – April 2018

Cost plan 1  March – April 2018

Update surveys  Feb – Jun 2018

Developed design and Planning information  April – July 2018

Cost plan 2  June – July 2018

Wiltshire review scheme: Final sign-off  June – July 2018

Planning  July 2018 – Jan 2019

OJEU process tender Main contractor  Oct 2018 – April 2019

Review and Award of contract  April – June 2019

Mobilisation period  June 2019

Construction commences  July 2019

18-month build process  Until Jan 21